Calling all visionary leaders with a builder’s mindset. We're seeking a Managing Director to lead strategy and operations for our Brussels House. This is a rare opportunity to take on a pivotal role with a seat on our global management team, designed for you who thrives on bridging strategy with execution.
Opened in April 2025, Norrsken House Brussels is the latest addition to the global Norrsken ecosystem. Located in a landmark building in the European Quarter of Brussels, it currently gathers 160+ of Europe’s top sustainability and innovation advocates in a beautiful space designed to foster meaningful connections and collaboration. But this is just the start.
Our vision for Norrsken House Brussels is twofold. Firstly, to be a living, vibrant platform that gathers, connects and empowers Europe’s top sustainability and innovation advocates. Secondly, to act as a landing pad and bridge between European impact entrepreneurship and policy - connecting the founders building Europe’s future with those shaping its rules.
In short, we are building a lighthouse for planetary progress, right on the doorstep of the European Parliament. Our vision is grand and our aspirations are big, and now we’re looking for an exceptional individual to realize this. Sounds like you? Keep reading.
Your responsibilities will include;
Strategic leadership:
Set the strategic direction for Norrsken Brussels, ensuring its place as the local epicenter of impact and the go-to-hub for players in the ecosystem, such as impact founders, funders and policy makers.
Be the face and voice of Norrsken in EU policy space. Confidently represent us on stage, in stakeholder meetings, in the media and other relevant forums.
Own the P&L for Norrsken House Brussels. You will set the budget and ensure our resources are managed for maximum positive impact.
Closely collaborate with your peers in the global management team, to leverage our collective strength and actively seek pathways for joint impact.
Operational execution:
Lead, mentor and work alongside a small but highly ambitious team, to ensure operations, events, partnerships and sponsorships are managed to a high standard.
Ensure that the House is full and home to a vibrant community of values-aligned thinkers and doers.
You are responsible for the event planning, making sure that the House Operations Manager has all the necessary information and tools to execute the events, in a timely manner.
Turn strategy into execution by curating and creating partnerships, sponsorships and world-class events to turn Norrsken House Brussels to the go-to-hub for entrepreneurship and policy.
Who you are:
A purpose-driven leader with 10+ years of experience and a genuine passion for making things better in the world.
You have one foot in the hallways of EU policy and the other in the fast-moving world of startups. You’re able to connect with early-stage entrepreneurs and seasoned business leaders as well as with EU officials and policy advocates - and you act as the bridge in between them.
A strong team-player and leader. You understand the power of role-modelling in a small team. You lead by both enabling and doing and aren’t afraid of rolling up your sleeves to get good sh*t done.
You have a track record of building something from the ground up - be it a startup, a new business area within a corporation, or initiatives in the social sector or public sector. You love making things happen. Experience in hospitality is a plus.
A relationship builder, with a strong ability to engage people and organizations, inspiring them to join forces with Norrsken on our mission.
A sharp mind with the ability to cut through complexity and simplify things. You're not afraid to make decisions and take calculated risks to achieve big things.
A curious and life-long learner, who thrives in a fast-paced environment. You’ll fail, learn and iterate quickly and find deep satisfaction in executing ideas that bring grand visions to life.
Working at Norrsken
A job at Norrsken is like working at a startup. It’s a fast-paced and exciting place to work. Tasks and challenges may be demanding, responsibilities may change over time, but we guarantee that in return we will fast-forward your personal and professional development. And, you’ll get to work in a team of caring people with similar aspirations. Ten years from now, you will be proud of the projects and ideas you have developed and acted on together.
We believe in radical transparency and aim to honour this in our recruitment processes. For more perspective on what it’s like to work at Norrsken, read our Employee Value Proposition here and Culture Foundation here.
Location
This position is based in Brussels and you’ll report directly to Norrsken Foundation Co-CEO Sara Kappelmark. You’d need a valid work permit for work in the EU.
We encourage you to apply as soon as possible as recruitment is ongoing.
Norrsken wishes to attract, recruit and retain a diverse, inclusive and creative workforce to give us the best opportunity to meet the diverse needs of our members and ecosystem. We actively encourage applications from all groups and communities.